Venetian blind with assured slat movement



Oct. 14, 1958 P. MATY 2,855,990

VENETIAN BLIND WITH ASSURED SLAT MOVEMENT Filed Dec. 21, 1956 INVENTQR, R4111. Marx 'iiT - 2,855,990 Patented Oct. '14, 1958 VENETIAN BLIND WITH ASSURED SLAT MOVEMENT Paul Maty, Acushnet, Mass., assignor to Modern Venetian Blinds, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 21, 1956, Serial No. 629,944

2 Claims. (Cl. 160-173) The present invention relates to Venetian blinds and more particularlyto the slats and their related ladder tapes.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved Venetian blind slat and ladder tape construction which are associated so that the slat is compelled to lie against the rungs it is on at all positions assumed by said rungs thereby assuring that the slat will not remain vertical when the ladder tapes are adjusted by the tilter to open the blind, that is, the slat is compelled to follow the rungs.

A further object thereof is to provide a novel and improved slat and ladder tape construction for Venetian blinds of the character mentioned, which affords a simple way to associate the slat to the rungs it lies on to accomplish the function set forth and also for maintaining the slats against lengthwise shift.

Still a further object thereof is to provide a novel and improved Venetian blind slat and ladder tape construction for the purposes described, which is simple in structure, easy to assemble to effect the required association of the slat to the ladder tapes, reasonably cheap to manufacture and efiicient in carrying out the functions for which such are designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

For the practice of this invention, a construction of the slats and the ladder tapes may be as follows. The rungs of the ladder tapes may each be a piece of tape of a width nearly that of the vertical tapes. Such piece serving as the rung, has a slot therealong of a width slightly larger than the diameter of the operating cord. This slot ends a short distance from each of the vertical tapes. The slat at vertical tape regions is provided with a notch for each vertical tape to lie in. Of course such notches are in the longitudinal edges of the slat. Midway of each notch which is along the rear edge of the slat, there is a tab extending from the slat body so that each such rear notch has a tab extending therein. The depth of each notch is a little greater than the height of the tab therein. To assemble, the ladder is adjusted by the tilter device of the blind so that the rungs lie substantially horizontal. A slat is set on a pair of rungs while the slat is held in an upright position whereby the rear tabs set into the slots of the rungs respectively. The slat is then shifted to the rear ends of said slots until the tabs are stopped by the slot ends respectively. Then the slat is swung forwardly downward to rest on the rungs. The tabs at the rear of the blind will lie under the rungs respectively and become engaged to said rungs because the end of the rung in each instance will be bent and securely hold the tabs respectively.

The vertical tapes will lie within the confines of the notches. Rung movement will compel slat movement so that the slat is always against the rungs it is associated with and the slat will be maintained against lengthwise shift.

.In the accompanying drawing forming part of this speci- 2 fication, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a Venetian blind embodying the teachings of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a slat.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view drawn to a larger scale, showing the ladder tape construction.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of a slat mounted on a rung of the ladder tape. This view is an enlarged section taken at lines 5-5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the showing in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows an end view of the slat.

Fig. 8 is anenlarged section taken at lines 8-8 in Fig. 5 and particularly shows how the rung is bent by the tab on the slat.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section taken at lines 9--9 in Fig. l.

In the drawing, the numeral 15 designates generally a Venetian blind whose slats 16 are supported on the rungs of the spaced ladder tapes 17. Though not shown, the blind of course includes means for tilting the slats and to raise and lower them in usual fashion. As mentioned, this invention concerns itself with the construction and association of the slats and the ladder tapes. Hence, a description of them will now be given. All slats being identical, what is said of one will apply to all. All ladder tapes being the same, a description of the construction and association of one of the rungs with the front and rear tapes will sufiice for all. All slats being carried by the ladder tapes in identical manner, description of one such association will be sufficient.

A ladder tape 17 consists of a front tape 18, a rear tape 19 and the rungs 20. Each rung has a lengthwise slot 21, whose ends are spaced a bit from said front and rear tapes as indicated by the distance A. Through these slots is the cord 22 which is used to raise the blind 15.

Each slat at each region where it meets the front and rear tapes of each ladder tape, has a notch 23 to receive such tapes therein respectively, that is, the rear tape 19 sets within the notch 23 in the rear edge of the slat 16, while the front tape 18 sets into a similar notch in the front edge of the slat. Into the mid region of each notch 23, there extends from the slat body, a tab 25. As will be seen, the provision of these tabs is mandatory only with the notches 23 along one edge of each slat. However all the notches are provided with such tab 25 in order to facilitate economical assembly so as not to have to choose a special position for each slat with respect to the front and rear tapes of the ladder tapes 17 The slat stock may be transversely arcual or any other shape as for instance of S-section as shown. Its width as measured along a straight line is at least the width of the tape ladder when the rungs are horizontal. The width of the slat between opposite notches 23, is the length of a slot 21. The height of each tab 25 is about equal to the distance A'and the width of each such tab is about that of the slot 21. It is evident that each tab 25 is a bit inward of the adjacent slat edge. Also in the embodiment shown, each slat 16 between opposite tapes 18 and 19, is provided with a central hole 24 through which the cord 22 is threaded.

In assembly, preferably the tabs 25 at the rear edge of the slat 16, are set into the slots 21 of the rungs on which the slat-is rested as shown in the lower portion of Fig. 9. When the slat is laid down on the rungs as that shown in the upper part of said Fig. 9, the tabs 25 will contact the undersides of the rungs respectively in the lane measured by the distance A and such lane will be bent and engaged. The tabs of course, thus engage the rungs. It is evident it is the slat 16 that is engaged by the rungs free -for-- independent movement or to stay-upright or away from the rungs it is associated with at any time and gravity is not relied on anymore for downward shift of -the slat, at least not entiielyg because the 'engagemerit of slat to the rungs it is on -will cause the slat'to' move 'with the rungs. f Said engagementofthe slatsto the rungs will also maintain the slats against-longitudinalshift. Fig. 5 shows the manner of such engagement of the 'tab ZS-and the rung 20. Here, clearly seen,i's th'e bend caused'in the rung upon its engagementwith suchtabd The'slats; as is evident, are easily insertable and removable.

This invention is capable of 'numer'ousformsand various applications without departing from-the essential features herein disclosed. Itis therefore intended and'desired that the embodiments'shown herein'shall-b'e deemed illustrative and not restrictiveand 'that thepatent shall cover all patentable' novelty herein setforth; reference being had to the following claims 'rather thanto the specific description herein to indicate the scope 'of this invention.

-and identically'sp'aced rungs between suchtapes; each rung of one ladder being coplanar with a rung of the ---other respectively-andeachrung-havingan opening therethrough, spaced from one of said tapes, and slats, one resting atop coplanar rungs respectively; each slat on one longitudinal edge thereof, having a tab extending therefrom at each such opening; each tab being positioned through said openings respectively and in contact with the underside of--the rung it is associated with, whereby the tab is engaged by such rung.

2. The Venetian blind as defined in claim 1, wherein each slat is provided with notches in said' longitudinal edge; atape being positionedin each of said notches; each tab extending from the slat body into one of said notches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,052,379 Brent Aug. 25, 1936 2,170,938 Carreran et al -2 Aug.- 29; 1939 2,311,716 WaIker, Feb. 23, 1-943 2,537,865 Stuber et a1. Jan. 8,- 1951 2,576,159 Walker Nov. 27, 1951 2,662,592 Bierlich Dec. 15, 1953 2,786,521 Evans Mar. 26, 1957 2,796,927 Evans June 25, 1957 

